We left off discussing why it is important to accept upon ourselves the Mitzvah of Ve’ahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha/loving your friend like you love yourself before we pray. Today we will add another two reasons for this practice.
The Sefer Bat Eyin, in Parashat Miketz, explains that when we pray, we need the Shechina/God’s presence, to be there.
But the pasuk says that the Shechina only dwells on a humble person. If a person thinks that he, on his own, will be answered, that shows a lack of humility. A person has to realize that he doesn’t deserve, on his own, to be answered. Rather, as the Shunamite woman said, “I dwell amongst my people.” We have to think, “I am part of the Jewish people, and I love every Jewish person.”
The statement of Ahavat Yisrael before you pray is an indication of humility, and humility causes one’s prayers to be answered.
This is an added nuance, from the sefer Bat Eyin.
Another reason, from the Sefer Yarot Dvash, (Vol II, 5) by Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschutz, is that when we pray, we come to God, asking Him to go beyond the call of duty, because we don’t necessarily deserve what we are asking for. We want God to act with kindness towards us, and if that is the case, we must act similarly with our friend.
A person may not love his friend or he may even hold a grudge against his friend, because his friend wronged him. But how can we ask Hashem to go beyond the call of duty with us, if we aren’t ready to do likewise and forgive our friend?
Hashem works Middah k’Neged Middah/ Measure for measure. Therefore, he says, before we pray, we have to remove all anger and complaints against our friends.
Then, Hashem will act toward us in the way that we act towards others. Otherwise, it is hard for our prayers to be answered.
Therefore, he says, before we pray, we have to fill our hearts with love, even to those that have wronged us. We have to give others the benefit of the doubt. When a person comes before Hashem, he has to, so to say, remove his unclean clothing, and put on clean clothing. There is no cleaner clothing than good Middot and love for your fellow man.
B’ezrat Hashem, we will have these traits, the Shechina will dwell upon us, and Hashem will look at us and give us the benefit of the doubt.
Have a wonderful day.